Marjorie Harrison, the mayor’s nominee for director of the Anchorage Public Library, answered questions from the Anchorage Municipal Assembly during a Feb. 28, 2025, confirmation work session focused on her background, library priorities and policies.

Harrison, who told the assembly she has worked in libraries for more than 30 years and most recently served as executive director of the Calcasieu Parish Public Library in Louisiana, said libraries should be “a center of the community” that connect people to education, information and services. “Libraries are the ultimate community connector linking people to possibilities, resources, information, and services,” Harrison said.

The session concentrated on how the library will handle recurring, contentious issues: book challenges, the presence of unhoused patrons, building security and the downtown library project. Harrison said she is opposed to book banning and favors handling collection questions through established policies and reconsideration procedures. “I am against book banning,” she said, adding that collection placement, age-appropriateness and formal policies guide decisions.

Several assembly members raised concerns about political pressure on library staff and the risk that libraries could be drawn into partisan conflicts. Assembly Member Anna Brawley warned there is a “move by some to make libraries partisan,” and asked how Harrison would protect staff and preserve nonpartisan service. Harrison said she relies on clear policies, community input and staff as primary resources to guide responses to disputes and to protect employees.

On the topic of patrons experiencing homelessness, assembly members noted prior incidents and the assembly’s budgeted social-worker positions intended to connect people with services. When asked whether the library should be welcoming to unhoused people, Harrison said, “I’m in favor — to me, the library is welcoming to everyone,” and suggested a code-of-conduct and other policies to manage problematic behaviors while maintaining access.

Harrison described her experience with library security planning in Louisiana, where local preferences included armed deputies at some facilities, and said safety and security are “extremely important.” She emphasized assessing community needs branch by branch and being open to multiple approaches: “There’s not just one way of doing something,” she said.

Assembly members also asked about the downtown library project and facility planning. Harrison said she has experience acquiring and reimagining properties for library service and stressed community input and working with architects to translate needs into usable space. She noted she has attended local library-leadership meetings since arriving in Anchorage and that this was her first full week on the job.

No formal confirmation vote took place during the work session; the assembly offered Harrison the customary chance to be sworn in on the dais at the formal assembly meeting if she is confirmed. The committee adjourned after the hearing.